After numerous wins at the junior level, he joined Team Milram's development setup and won the German under-23 national road race title.

After a single season for Milram's continental team, he joined the senior squad and turned professional.

[2] After Milram's disbandment, he joined Liquigas–Cannondale for 2011,[3] and rode his first Grand Tour later that year – the 2011 Vuelta a España.

Riding in support of Vincenzo Nibali, he finished 38th overall and was the highest ranked German in the general classification.

[5] In September 2014, Bora–Argon 18 announced that they had signed Nerz on a two-year deal from 2015, as a team leader for the Grand Tours and similar stage races.